The Packet Optical gear provides hundreds of gigabits of throughput over ultra long distances without the need to regenerate or amplify the signal.

For Ciena, the deal means it can now reach a wider market.

Gary Smith, president and chief executive, said in a statement that the joint SDN development deal with Ericsson would let them “deliver on network transformation strategies that dynamically support changing demands for network-level applications and services."

Ericsson claims more than 40 per cent of the world’s mobile network traffic passes through its networks, with more than 1,000 networks in 180 countries using its gear. ®